Finding a Company that Values Veterans
is the Key to a Successful Transition
By Jackie Jolly, former Sergeant, U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, Nationwide
When preparing to transition
to civilian life and you are
looking for a job or beginning
a career, it’s important to identify
companies that support and respect the
valuable skills you’ve gained from serving
in the military.
I’ve been blessed to have great
experiences. I enlisted in the Marine Corps
Reserves when I graduated high school
and was deployed for a year to Djibouti,
Africa while employed at Nationwide.
Many employers, like Nationwide, offer pay
differential and military leave. While I wasn’t
guaranteed the same role after deployment, I knew I
could do my duty by serving my country and come
back to a job with a great company that genuinely
cares about their employees.
Nationwide also has dedicated HR specialists who
help service members and their managers prepare for
leave. It helps when companies have these specialists
because it prepares the leader and the team for what’s
expected of active reservists or guard members.
Every veteran knows it can be mentally draining to
be away from friends and family while you’re deployed.
My coworkers were amazing; they would email me and
send care packages while I was away. They were then
and are now an invaluable part of my community.
Transitioning back into civilian life after a
deployment is also tough, but Nationwide’s support
made that transition much easier. I returned to my job
confident that I would be fully supported – it was
seamless.
Employee resource groups are great resources
for veterans transitioning to civilian employment. These
groups provide an instant connection with other
veterans. Nationwide’s Military Associate Resource
Group facilitates mentoring relationships to help
veterans successfully navigate corporate culture.
Another way companies can help you
successfully transition to civilian life is by helping
leaders understand how the skills you develop while
serving are valuable for their organization. This includes
educating hiring managers on military positions/grades
and how those fit within their company and
demonstrating how a veteran’s skills directly translate
to the civilian sector. Nationwide also provides
interview guides to help hiring managers interview
veteran job candidates.
When I was deployed to Africa, I managed the
supply logistics of all our gear, armory and motor pool
in support of our mission to protect the base. All of that
required attention to detail, an ability to coordinate
people and communicate effectively. Those are skills I
use every day in my civilian job.
Shortly after I got back, I told my coworker about
everything I did while I was deployed. She was in awe
of the skills I gained and immediately asked my boss
if I could transfer to her group and help with some
projects. While working on these projects, I realized
that I wanted to build a career in underwriting.
The most important part of making a successful
transition is finding a company that values diversity,
equity and inclusion. I can always tell by talking to
different people on my team and across the company
that my military service is respected. Veteran inclusion
is a part of Nationwide’s culture. Our On Your Side®
Jackie Jolly in dress blues during funeral
detail honoring WWII, Korean and Vietnam
veteran who was also a Nationwide
employee.
commitment of extraordinary care extends to our
customers and partners, but also to each other.
LS
Jackie Jolly in front of her company about to
be promoted to Sergeant in Tucson, AZ.
Veteran’s Perspective
Want to comment or have any questions on this
article? Email us at info@latinastyle.com
Jackie Jolly learning how to march a platoon during Corporals Course.
38 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 5, 2021
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